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Early Effects of HPV Vaccination Prove Beneficial
Am J Prev Med; ePub 2018 May 30; Guo, et al
A significant decrease in the incidence of cervical cancer among young females after the introduction of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine may indicate early effects of HPV vaccination, according to a recent cross-sectional study. This study used data from the National Program for Cancer Registries and Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Incidence–U.S. Cancer Statistics 2001–2014 database for US females aged 15–34 years. Researchers compared the 4-year average annual incidence of invasive cervical cancer in the 4 years before HPV vaccine was introduced (2003–2006) and the 4 most recent years in the vaccine era (2011–2014). Data were collected in 2001–2014, released, and analyzed in 2017. They found:
- The 4-year average annual incidence rates for cervical cancer in 2011–2014 were 29% lower than that in 2003–2006 (6.0 vs 8.4 per 1 million people, rate ratio=0.71) among females aged 15–24 years, and 13.0% lower among females aged 25–34 years.
- Among females aged 25–34 years, there was no significant decrease in cervical cancer incidence after 2006.
Guo F, Cofie KLE, Berenson AB. Cervical cancer incidence in young U.S. females after human papillomavirus vaccine introduction. [Published online ahead of print May 30, 2018]. Am J Prev Med. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2018.03.013.
This study looked at cervical cancer incidence in pre- and post-HPV vaccine time points using a national database that accurately reflects the numbers. The numbers show general population trends in the 2 time periods and clearly show a significant decrease in the incidence of cervical cancer in the HPV vaccine era. As HPV vaccine acceptance increases and more of the population is immunized, we expect to see even more significant decreases in cervical cancer over time.—Sarah Rawstron, MB, BS, FAAP, FIDSA; Pediatric Residency Program Director, The Brooklyn Hospital Center, NY; Clinical Associate Professor, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, NY.